Monday, May 5, 2014

The two-day workshop that Seth Apter taught (For Your Eyes Only) last weekend at Random Arts was inspiring and challenging and a big step outside my comfort zone. The supply list was fairly extensive and specific but when it was time to pull supplies, like a variety of papers, ephemera and objects, I had a hard time deciding what to pack. So I pulled stuff without over-thinking it and ended up with ample, albeit completely unrelated-theme stuff.

(Fortunately, Jane's amazing shop has a bit of everything, which alleviates the fear that all the 'right' stuff was left back in the studio. So no worries and I always return with lots more than I took.)

Seth's book is amazing and I love his gridded design approach; however, when we started to work I could not make the first one (though I understood the concept). But Seth is amazing. He shares brilliant techniques fully understanding that the same format might not work for everyone (like me), so once freed I got into the zone. Along with a few of my photographs I'd brought 2 pages of haiku that I'd written over the past couple of years; my theme presented itself.

Having limited supplies turned out to be a blessing in this case. In the studio it would have taken weeks to figure out how to put pages together... I used a painting and a lot of the painted papers I took.

And I had a bunch of vintage school paper used by "Lester" and his work appears throughout :)

I had a bagful of batik and sari ribbon (supplemented by a trip to Jane's shop) and I found they made great binding covers, plus I love having things showing outside the piece.

Seth said our books were filled with 'happy accidents'... or were they?

He gave a rather Freudian explanation for the dual face spread - half child and half emerging being....

And of course I had to use one of my faces.

and put an old library card in the back cover

I'd left the back cover blank but wrote a haiku when I got back to my studio.

We all experienced the same thorough, detailed demonstration and explanation of the processes. But Sunday afternoon when we shared our work via 'show and tell' (which included Seth's thorough and amazing critique) I was blown away by the diversity, originality and creative interpretation. The only similarity was that they all had 2 covers.

Friday, May 2, 2014

The only thing harder than getting to Saluda is leaving it behind. Seth Apter was an instant favorite last weekend; we enjoyed perfect weather, great food, fun and art thanks to the fabulous Jane of Random Arts. If you haven't taken a class with Seth you should do yourself a favor and check his itinerary. Both workshops were crammed with technique, demos, lots of one-on-one help and finished projects. One of the best experiences ever.

The first workshop was a one-day called Shredded Silhouettes and it wasn't long before our work tables were in complete disarray, hands covered with paint. Ahhh, yes. The 'Bingo Bird' at the top is my piece and I really am happy with it, which doesn't always happen.

Spending all five days with Rachel was the icing on the cake. We met in Knoxville and drove to Saluda together; we stayed in the Carolina Cottage and it was entirely perfect. I already miss her!

The second workshop - 'For Your Eyes Only' - was spread over two days, thankfully. Book making wasn't a familiar process to many of us so I'm fairly sure that it worked because Seth was at the helm. I've finished the piece but no photography so that comes next.

Until then, wishing you blessings and inspiration in all your creative projects!

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Thanks for Visiting

The renovated attic in our old brick four-square has been a haven since an auto-immune illness interrupted life as I knew it. I embarked upon this journey according to the old saying that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, or, well, art. I took that to heart and I've been painting more days than not and I've appreciated each step of this journey - the breath, substance and core of my soul. I've been at it long enough to have acquired the gift of diving in, headfirst, no longer any fear of the blank canvas. Though writing and photography have been lifelong passions I have an infinite appreciation for process, painting, discovery.

My hours in the studio answer this question: What happens when one life ends? Just like the caterpillar at that stage of the journey, you sprout new wings.

Inspiration

There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.